Now Commenting On:

All-Star Melky open to long-term deal with Giants

All-Star Melky open to long-term deal with Giants

7/6/12: Melky Cabrera crushes a two-run homer to left field off Erik Bedard, tying the game at 3 in the top of the fourth inning

By Chris Haft
/
MLB.com |

KANSAS CITY -- Melky Cabrera is just as consistent with discussing his impending free agency as he is swinging a bat.

Speaking through a translator during the National League All-Stars' interview session on Monday, the left fielder made one of his strongest statements yet about wanting to stay in San Francisco.

"I'm a free agent next year, but the Giants organization is treating me very well," said Cabrera, he of the .353 batting average. "So I would welcome staying with the Giants."

Cabrera also said, "I'd like to be on a team more than two or three years, like maybe the rest of my career, and maybe in San Francisco."

Cabrera indicated that his agent, Dominic Torres, will engage the Giants in contract discussions. "The [agent] knows what I want, so he'll talk to the Giants," Cabrera said.

That's different from Cabrera declaring that he intends to stay with the Giants. Cabrera might like San Francisco, but after being traded or cast off from the Yankees, Braves and Royals, he indicated that loyalty is a rare commodity in professional baseball.

"This is a business," Cabrera said. "You have to be ready mentally and physically to be on the move."

National League lineup

Player, Team

Bats

Pos.

1. Carlos Gonzalez, COL

L

DH

2. Melky Cabrera, SF

S

CF

3. Ryan Braun, MIL

R

LF

4. Joey Votto, CIN

L

1B

5. Carlos Beltran, STL

S

RF

6. Buster Posey, SF

R

C

7. Pablo Sandoval, SF

S

3B

8. Dan Uggla, ATL

R

2B

9. Rafael Furcal, STL

S

SS

Matt Cain, SF

R

P

Don't try going behind Cabrera's back for a more revealing look at his situation, either. Asked if he'd like to see Cabrera sign a multiyear extension with the Giants, third baseman Pablo Sandoval said, "I'm happy to have him right now."

By contrast, catcher Buster Posey wasn't even slightly coy when asked about the numerous men and women representing the Armed Forces that he has seen all season and since arriving here.

"That's a tough one to swallow sometimes. Because they're the heroes," Posey said. "They're the ones who are putting so much on the line for all of us to be here today and to have the freedom to be sitting here right now. I know, personally, I'm very appreciative."

Posey reiterated his appreciation for being able to play baseball barely more than a year after sustaining multiple left leg injuries in a home-plate collision.

Said Posey, "The biggest thing for me is appreciation of the game, maybe more than I had before -- enjoying playing, enjoying being with my teammates and enjoying competing at the highest level.

"... It's definitely special. I was anxious to be back and competing on a Major League level. This is kind of icing on the cake. It's sometimes kind of hard to believe."

Asked what he was doing a year ago at this time, Posey replied that he was still in the Bay Area, just beginning to remove his cast occasionally to work on range-of-motion exercises.

Former Giants utility man Mark DeRosa, then nursing an injured left wrist, was often in the training room with Posey. DeRosa, now playing for the Washington Nationals, wasn't surprised to see Posey not only recover in time to play this season, but also to make the NL All-Star team.

"Buster's one of the best players in the game," DeRosa said. "I really believe that. And not only that, he's a better person. Just being around him the year and a half I was there, you could tell he was special. ... I expect him to be an All-Star for a long time."

No matter how many All-Star teams Posey makes, he'll never forget this initial All-Star experience. "I'm humbled to be here with the best players in the game," he said.

Posey said that he was looking forward to playing against Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter -- a noted perfectionist to whom he often has been compared -- and fellow National Leaguer Chipper Jones, the longtime Atlanta Braves star who plans to retire after this season. Having grown up in south Georgia, Posey admired Jones and frequently watched him play on television.

Jones' first full season was 1995, when Posey was 8.

"I'm excited to get to see him here," Posey said. "Growing up watching him, I didn't think I would have the opportunity to play with him. It just speaks to the longevity he's had in his career."

The 83rd Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. Pregame ceremonies begin at 4:30 p.m. PT. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage. MLB Network, MLB.com and Sirius XM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Game coverage.

Fans will also have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player presented by Chevrolet via the 2012 MLB.com All-Star Game MVP Vote during the All-Star Game on MLB.com

Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.